Ms Pollard said told Express: “Most women on our list have power because they have reached a place where they have control – of policy, of direction, of influence, of staff."

The panel included women with 'soft power' those with a transformative capacity to change how Britons think about themselves.

The purpose of the list was to show the inadequate number of women at the top of power fields like politics, corporations, the military and journalism.

Woman’s Hour editor Alice Feinstein commented that the radio show wanted to initiate a conversation on women and power. “We will use this list as a springboard to discuss the contribution all women make to society," Feinstein said "and ask why there isn’t greater diversity in the list.”

Many saw the ommision of Princess Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge as an oversight. Panelists deemed her to be influential but not powerful, yet.